Alex Crook - Southampton Greatest Games: Saints Fifty Finest Matches

First published by Pitch Publishing, 2016

Pitch Publishing

A2 Yeoman Gate

Yeoman Way

Durrington

BN13 3QZ

www.pitchpublishing.co.uk

Alex Crook and Alex Smith, 2016

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or here in after invented, without the express written permission of the Publisher.

A CIP catalogue record is available for this book from the British Library

Print ISBN 978-1-78531-209-0

eBook ISBN 978-1-78531-277-9

---

Ebook Conversion by www.eBookPartnership.com

AS with any undertaking of this nature there are plenty of people to thank without their help and knowledge this book could not have happened.

Thanks to Simon Carter for allowing us access to the excellent Southern Daily Echo library to delve into their archives and read through old match reports, and Adam Leitch and Peter Howard for helping us learn how to use the facility and making us feel welcome on our visit.

That thanks is also stretched to every writer who has covered Saints for the Echo over the years, from Observer to Peter East and everyone in between your reporting has been a great service to the club and certainly made a book like this easier to research.

Each source we have used, whether that has been a national newspaper, book, or biography, has been credited in the chapters, but special note should be made of the website 11v11.com, which provided many of the team sheets featured.

We are also indebted to the knowledge of the grandfather of south coast football, Pat Symes, for his pointers along the way, and his help in bringing both the authors into the world of journalism. Martin Smith has also been of great help with his tips, study of football books and encouragement. Emma Allens editing of our copy has been much appreciated by both of us. Thanks too to Paul and Jane and all of the team at Pitch Publishing.

IN the league table of the most successful clubs in English football judged on major honours won Southampton sit in joint 33rd place alongside unfashionable names like Stoke City and Oxford United, but that does not begin to paint an accurate reflection of the many memorable moments in their illustrious history.

While there is no doubt the Bobby Stokes-inspired victory over Manchester United as a then-Second Division side in the 1976 FA Cup Final is the clubs single most significant result, there have been many more landmark matches for fans throughout the ages to enjoy.

In fact delving through old newspaper cuttings, hours of internet searches, autobiographies and television and radio clips to whittle it down to just 50 of the greatest games proved as big a challenge as Saints have presented to all of Englands elite clubs down the years.

Within this book we have tried to document the most important incidents since the club was formed in the late 1880s; from the first south coast derby of note and the most important subsequent skirmishes with bitter foes Portsmouth to the first Football League game at The Dell, and indeed the last when tears filled the eyes of grown men on and off the pitch. From the maiden voyages into European competition to the historic first promotion to the top flight, the heartbreak of relegation and the climb back up the lower divisions to the Premier League via administration and near bankruptcy, thanks to saviour Markus Liebherr.

While Saints may not be able to claim the trophy haul of the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, all three of those clubs plus many more high profile names feature prominently on the list of big sides who have been left with bloodied noses by the team from the south coast.

And when it comes to terrace heroes, Saints fans have had more than their fair share of superstars to marvel at; from the free-scoring Ron Davies, dubbed by Sir Matt Busby as the greatest centre-forward of his generation, to the mercurial Matt Le Tissier, whose name features more prominently than any other over the course of the 50 games.

Kevin Keegan, Mick Channon, record appearance-maker Terry Paine, cup-winning manager Lawrie McMenemy and club stalwart Ted Bates would all be worthy recipients of a star on a Hollywood-style Saints walk of fame and the fantastic five all have a starring role to play on our journey of discovery.

In more recent years players such as Rickie Lambert and Jose Fonte have etched their names into Southampton folklore by spearheading the remarkable rise from the foot of League One into the Premier League and, under the stewardship of Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman, back into Europe, culminating in the 2016 Europa League clashes with Italian giants Inter Milan, a period of the clubs history the authors of this book have seen and reported on at first hand.

If they have played a pivotal role in shaping Saints history they are sure to feature in one of the chapters so sit back and enjoy your ride down memory lane.

Up the Saints!

Alex Crook, 2 September 2016

v Manchester United 0-1 1 May 1976 FA Cup Final Wembley Stadium Attendance: 99,115

BOBBY Stokes would not be the first name on the lips of many Southampton supporters when asked for a list of the clubs greatest players, but he did score what is widely regarded as the most significant goal in their history.

It is true Stokes did not possess the panache of Matt Le Tissier, the goalscoring prowess of Mick Channon or the longevity of Terry Paine. But when fans were asked to decide after whom the hospitality suites at the newly-built St Marys Stadium should be named in 2001, Stokes took his place alongside the three aforementioned heroes. Not bad for a lad born along the M27 in Portsmouth!

The record books tell us Stokes scored 40 goals in 216 games for Southampton, by no means a paltry tally but nothing to write home about when compared to Channons impressive haul of 157 in 391 appearances in the red and white. However, with one swing of his trusty left foot, Stokes ensured his name would go down in history.